Most football fans will tell you that the only thing worse than being beaten in the cup final, is being beaten in a semi final. The same holds true for greyhound folk. No one goes into a final certain of victory or defeat, but they have their day. An unforgettable experience irrespective of the result.
Tonight at Towcester connections of twelve greyhounds chasing £175,000 in prize money, and a priceless dream, would gladly settle for a qualifying place and a chance to create history in a week’s time.
For those new to the event, tonight’s two Star Sports Derby semi finals take place at 8.56 and 9.13. Before then, we have an interesting mixture of races over all distances.
Race 1 – 500m (one full lap and a race to the winning line)
The first race is a semi final of the consolation competition for dogs eliminated in the early stages of the Derby and in Dorotas Wildcat, we seem to have a real hard luck story. The Oxfordshire based Wildcat was rated among the leading fancies to win the big one, but an early lapse in concentration cost him dearly. He has since returned to form and will have a point to prove here – and possibly next week.
His biggest danger – at least on reputation will be Sonic in trap four. So far Sonic has failed to show his best Irish form but just a glimpse would be enough to give the Wildcat a run for his money. But if short odds don’t appeal to you, maybe a nibble on Chilli Squid who will start at around 33-1.
Favourite: Dorotas Wildcat (T3). Outsider: Chilli Squid (T1) Guru Guide: Dorotas Wildcat (T3)
Race 2 – 260m (half a lap of the track)
The first sprint of the night – the dogs will cover the 260 metres in just over 15 seconds – or roughly twice as fast as Usain Bolt might manage it. The bookmakers find it virtually impossible to separate traps two, three and six in the betting who will all start at odds of roughly 3-1 – give or take.
Look at the race more closely and we discover three local girls taking on three visiting boys. The Guru would narrow it down further as being between local ladies Shlowdown Sally and Westway Gaga who have raced against each other twice recently – one win apiece.
Favourite: Westway Gaga – possibly (T6). Outsider: Rahyvira River (T1) Guru Guide: Westway Gaga (T6)
Race 3 – 500m (one full lap and a race to the winning line)
The second of the Derby Plate semi finals has reduced to five runners this morning with the withdrawal of Drive On Tipp who was coughing.
Tipp would probably have started joint favourite and his absence can only help his kennelmate Impressive Guy who will have some extra space near the inside. The other beneficiary would be Norfolk based Graces Blueboy who surprised many (not us, we tipped him at 8-1) when he ran a very fast time in his last race.
Favourite: Graces Blueboy (T5) Outsider: Rising Razor (T4) Guru Guide: Graces Blueboy (T5)
Race 4 – 686m (just over a lap and a half)
The bookies expect the first televised stayers race to be dominated by Cloran Paddy. The Nottinghamshire based white and black dog switched back to the Derby distance but is a star in his own right over the longer distances. His biggest danger Borna Mindy is doing the opposite in stamina terms, she won the TV Trophy over the full two circuits (906m) so will have few fears over this shorter trip.
As for the locals, they will be cheering home Colins Peace (T3) who has beaten the best at the track in his last two races.
Favourite: Cloran Paddy (T4) Outsider: Coolavanny Bear (T6) Guru Guide: Cloran Paddy (T4)
Race 5 – 260m (half a lap of the track)
Back to the sprints and a very difficult one to call. The bookmakers think the race will be dominated by the inside two traps, though it really does look very open. The Guru reckons the better value is the locally trained Trapstyle Jet who has been beaten in his last three races but is more than fast enough to beat this opposition and should start at around 5-1.
Favourite: Toolmaker Rambo (T1) Outsider: Tynwald Storm (T5) Guru Guide: Trapstyle Jet (T3)
Race 6 – 686m (just over a lap and a half)
There are four boys in this race, though most enthusiasts see it as a match race between the ladies in traps one and two.
In trap one in Irish runner Frankies Lady who impressed in the Derby but looked as though she would really benefit from the extra distance and in her first test over this course, she ran the second fastest time time ever recorded. However, drawn next door is Aaymza Breeze who is already established as one of the top runners in training over these extended distances and has won five of her eight races.
Favourite: Frankies Lady (T1) Outsider: Paradise Marco (T5) Guru Guide: Frankies Lady (T1)
Race 7 – FIRST DERBY SEMI FINAL 500m (one full lap and a race to the winning line)
If you were to ask most serious greyhound punters to name Britain’s six fastest dogs over this distance, they would almost certainly include last year’s Derby finalist Hiya Butt and the 2016 Greyhound of the Year Droopys Buick. In trap three we have one of the most exciting young dogs in training and contesting just the tenth race of his life.
The bookmakers can’t separate the trio, though given the competitive nature of the race, it would be surprising if all three made it through to the final. What happens if they get in each other’s way. Then it might be worth looking to Forest Con in trap six. So far, he has failed to fly from the traps in his best style. If he does, well they may not catch him.
Favourite: Hiya Butt (T1) Outsider: Murrays Act (T5) Guru Guide: Forest Con (T6)
Race 8 – SECOND DERBY SEMI FINAL 500m (one full lap and a race to the winning line)
Last but not least we have the two runners most fancied to win next week’s final, Clares Rocket (T1) and Tyrur Shay (T5). The latter is the former track record holder, the latter is the current record holder and they have suffered just one defeat between them.
The trap draw probably favours Clares Rocket who is a big powerful hound who is more than happy to push his way through at the first bend. Shay sometimes leads, sometimes has to come through the field. Against lesser dogs, he was successful. It is unlikely that he can afford to give the Rocket a start.There are in fact four Irish runners in the line-up and some very shrewd judges rated Swithins Brae (T2) as a strong fancy to qualify for next week’s final.
Favourite: Clares Rocket (T1) Outsider: Sallows Ford (T6) Guru Guide: Clares Rocket (T1)
